Vacuum cleaning apparatus.



P. D. LARSON. VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION nmzn um 12, 1am.

Patented May 30, 1911.

FRANCIS D. LARSON, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 191..

Application filed September 12, 1910. Serial No. 581,625.

obtaining a more thorough and efiicient action, and to this end itconsists in an improved nozzle structure, together with a novelconstruction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described andclaimed.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is hadto the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, inwhich drawing,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the nozzle; Fig. 2 is a bottom planview thereof, and

Fig. 3 1s a cross-section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is asectional detail ofthe inlet end of the nozzle showing the means forcontracting the area thereof.

As'shown in the drawing, the nozzle comprises an elongated body 5 havingan internal chamber 6 which opens through the top and bottom thereof.The chamber'is a relatively narrow slitformed in the nozzle body, and atthe bottom thereof, the slit is widened so as to stop a short distancefrom the ends. The dust enters through this widened end of the slit andas said end occupies practically the full width of the nozzle body, alarge surface is exposed to the suction when the apparatus is 1noperation, and, consequently, a large area can be quickly gone over andcleaned.

To the top of the nozzle body 5 is fastened a nipple 7 into which thechamber 6 opens, said nipple being provided for the attachment of aflexible hose or other conduit leading to the vacuum producingapparatus, which latter has not been shown as it forms no art of thepresent invention.

n the bottom of the nozzle body 5 on opposite sides of the inlet end ofthe chamber 6 are'rabbets in which are held, by means of strips 8,aprons 9 which depend for a short distance from the bottom of the nozzlebody. These aprons extend throughoutthe entire length of the lower endof the chamber 6, and their bottom edges are serrated as clearly shownin Fig. 2, the purpose of which will be presently described. The apronsare formed of rubber or other flexible material.

In the bottom of the nozzle body 5 are parallel grooves 10 which extendthroughout the entire width of said body and are closed at their ends byplates 11 secured to the ends of the nozzle body. In each of thesegrooves is located a rubber covered roller 12 which is journaled at itsends on pins 13 carried by the plates 11. These rollers are dimensionedso as to space the bottom of the nozzle body and the inlet end of thechamber a short distance from the floor or other part to be cleaned, andalso to enable the a paratus to be more easily handled and carrieddirectly over the parts to be cleaned.

In operation, the apparatus is rolled along the floor or other surfaceto be cleaned in the same manner as the ordinary vacuum cleaningapparatus. The suction produced in the chamber 6 causes the dust anddirt particles to enter the same and they are conducted to a suitablereceptacle, which need not be here shown as it forms no part of thepresent invention. The flexible aprons 9 are dragged over the floor andthey are designed to permit of their bending when coming in contact withlarge particles, thus permitting the latter to pass under the aprons,and upon being loosened thereby, they pass into the nozzle, the apronsreturning to their natural position.

The strips 8 are interchangeable with broader ones, as shown in Fig. 4to contract the width of the inlet end of the chamber any desired amountand thus accommodate the vacuum capacity of any machine.

The aprons 9 are notched deep enough to permit small openings to remainwhen the attachment is in place on the floor or surface to be cleaned;that is, the line of the bottom of the rollers should pass through apoint which is at or about the central point of the depth of thenotches. The position of the rollers with respect to the nozzle compels' all air assing under the body 5 to do so from the ends. Thissuction being confined to a limited area. or the ends, is much moreintense and is effective for a considerable distance beyond theapparatus, thus enabling the operat r to work eflectively in smallcorners and around the legs of benches, desks, etc. The notches in theaprons distribute the suction at the various points at which they occur,thus preventing a twoway suction from the ends of the nozzle, whichwould result in leaving a strip uncleaned in the middle of the path ofthe nozzle. The air entering through the notches destroys the tendencyof the air, which enters at the ends, to whirl and leave the surfaceuncleaned in the center of the path along which the apparatus istraveling.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a suction nozzle having dependingaprons extending along opposite sides of its inlet, and supportingrollers for the nozzle between which the aprons are located, saidrollers extending parallel to the aprons and in close proximity thereto,and the aprons having a serrated bottom edge to form a plurality ofinlets, said inlets extending above the line of the bottom of therollers.

2. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a suction nozzle having an inlet theopposite sides of which are rabbeted, and strips removably mounted insaid rabbets.

3. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a suction nozzle having an inlet theopposite sides of which are rabbeted, strips removably mounted in therabbets, and flexible aprons rollers extending parallel to the apronsand I in close proximity thereto. v

5. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a suction nozzle having dependingaprons extending along opposite sides of its inlet, and supporting meansfor the nozzle extending between the ends thereof outside the aprons,said supporting means filling the space between the body of the nozzleand the surface to be cleaned, and spacing the mouth of the nozzle fromsaid surface, the aprons having openings to form a plurality of said airinlets to the nozzle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS D. LARSON. Witnesses:

HARRY P. POLL, W. G. 0001:.

